The creative flow has inspired my life as far back as I can remember, expressed early through theatre and poetry. I was born, raised, and artistically nurtured in the downtown arts community of St. John's, Newfoundland. I studied Sociology and English at Memorial University while exploring theatre, visual arts, writing, and percussion in the vibrant community. In 1997, at the age of 21, I travelled to India on a Canada World Youth cultural exchange. I spent four months living in the village of Vaso, in the western province of Gujarat. I was immensely inspired by India's traditions of quality craftsmanship, and I left the country fuelled with a desire to find my way towards a creative life. I decided to travel west to British Columbia, and by serendipitous chance found myself sharing a home with lampworking glassblowers.

My first effort on the torch in the summer of 1998 was a series of 'mushroom' marbles that looked more like tadpoles. Welded together, they made a pretty large marble. Immediately I was incited with a passionate inspiration by the infinite creative possibilities and beautiful light effects that made possible lampworking borosilicate glass. I began an apprenticeship with another glassblower, and devoted myself to the craft with an inspired vision of infusing my hands with the capacity to create beautiful glass.

Lampworking borosilicate glass involves using a torch flame fuelled by an oxygen/propane gas mix to heat the glass freehand to the melting point, where it can be shaped, designed, and blown in a wide variety of specific techniques. Once completed, glass pieces are annealed in a kiln. Molten glass is flexible like taffy, requiring careful and precise hand motions. The alchemical colour palette allows for some wonderful hues and striations of shade. Borosilicate glass is especially good to work with as it is generally free of inclusions which offers a refined clarity while its increased hardness makes it highly resistant to breakage.

The momentum involved in the process is ever exciting and challenging and the classic beauty of glass is enduringly enchanting, gifting my life with a connective creative expression; an allure that constantly pulls me to the studio. Each piece holds the momentum of its molten process and is an expression of the singularity of time within creation; a sense of the 'world in a grain of sand'. Even consistent lines and series have subtle differences to make them one-of-a-kind, and its a beautiful connection to meet people with my work. Even after ten years, the allure constantly pulls me to the studio. Whether I'm making small drops or large custom sculptural work, the passion for the glass' process is present and magical, and is conveyed within the pieces themselves.

My work is available throughout Canada at select galleries, boutiques and shops, and at occasional events as listed in the 'Connections' section of this site. I am also continually available on a retail, wholesale, and commission basis.

People ... they talk

"I've noted, over a period of years, the consistent high quality of Kathleen's craft, design concepts and attention to detail."

Keith HolmesArtist, Painter

Kathleen Buckley is an amazing glass artist, whose work continues to be exquisite in color, ingenuity, and exceptional in both its artistry and skill. The beauty seems to emerge in multiple ways as one beholds the piece, whether it is jewelry or one of her other objects. Everyone I give pieces to loves them. Kathleen is a gem, as well as her work and she is a deep artist, and her glass expresses the depths."